Device for the instant, automatic, pressurized percolation of food liquids

ABSTRACT

Device for instant, automatic, pressurized percolation of food liquids provided with a horizontal mechanical assembly including as main elements functional sections, especially a stationary rail, an infusion chamber with a movable bottom and a movable part carrying the compression piston sliding on the rail, and a filling chamber linked to the movable bottom by a rod whose position and section is adapted to control the movement of a scraper pivoting on a horizontal pivot. The invention is used for preparing espresso coffees.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a device for instant, automatic,pressurized percolation of food liquids, and especially of hot beveragessuch as coffee.

The invention is intended to enable the preparation, under entirelyautomated conditions and without human intervention except for sendingan initial command signal, of a hot beverage such as an "espresso" typeof coffee, i.e., delivered and made available to the consumerimmediately upon exiting the percolation phase.

2. Discussion of Background Information

Devices disclosed up until now, and especially the device described inFR 86 02636 by the same inventor, are most often based on the use of avertical cylinder constituting the infusion chamber into which is poureda certain quantity of ground coffee retained by a mesh constituting thebase of the cylinder. A vertically displacing piston compresses thecoffee powder, through which hot water is injected and then removed. Thehot water generally gets into the cylinder by passing through the mobilecompression piston, thereby necessitating flexible tubing which isgenerally fragile. The base of the cylinder is mobile and can risewithin the latter so as to enable the extraction of the powder which isremoved by means of a mobile scraper. The assembly is activated by meansof generally complex and expensive mechanisms, comprising mechanical orother latching systems, and are controlled by electro-mechanical orelectronic devices, attached to a series of micro-contacts, that oftenbreak down. The presence of the mobile piston above the cylinder rendersthe pouring action of the coffee powder therein clumsy, by requiring acomplicated progression and mobile guide means. Finally, the hot watersupply and removal of the infused coffee is done by a network ofconduits that lead to loss of heat.

FR 90 00 820 and PCT/FR91/00030, by the same inventor, partially resolvethese faults. They describe a device equipped with a mechanical grouparranged horizontally in which the movements of the mobile elements areall caused by two racks with inverted horizontal displacements driving aseries of cross-pieces sliding along columns, the infusion chamber withthe horizontal axis, through which the hot water passes vertically,being extended by a horizontal, mobile filling chamber directlyreceiving the poured coffee powder, which is later removed by a scraper,also having a horizontal movement and moved by a rotational lever. Aheater located immediately below the mechanical group is directlyconnected to the infusion chamber by quick connectors for the injectionof water and removal of the infused coffee, without tubing, the infusedcoffee recrossing the body of the heater. The infusion chamber has amobile base with a magnetic latching driving system. Finally, themechanical group is driven by virtue of a quick coupling by a motorwhose stoppage and reverse motion are directly controlled by anelectronic torque sensor that controls the pressure and suppresses themicrocontacts.

The machining of this device, however, is relatively complex andexpensive, especially insofar as the cross-pieces, columns and scraperare concerned. In addition, magnetic latching is not completely reliabledue to the risk of the accumulation of coffee powder on the magnetizedelements.

The device as per the present invention, that brings a series ofimprovements to the devices of FR 90 00 820 and PCT/FR91/00030,overcomes all these disadvantages. In fact, it enables an automatic,pressurized percolation machine to be obtained that comprises a smallnumber of elements that are extremely reliable, especially easy tomaintain, having excellent heat yield and a competitive manufacturingprice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is constituted by the combination of a removable,horizontal mechanical group, equipped with an infusion chamber having amobile base, extended by a filling chamber that is displaced inconjunction with the mobile base, a heater located below the mechanicalgroup, equipped with a removable pouring element and connected to theinfusion chamber, and a drive unit activating all the mobile members ofthe mechanical group, the main members thereof being obtained fromfunctional sections, especially a fixed rail, the infusion chamber aswell as a mobile element sliding along said fixed rail and bearing thecompression piston as well a main rack driving a secondary rack by meansof a fixed pinion, the filling chamber and the mobile base also slidingalong such fixed rail and being rendered affixed by a rod whose positionand section are determined in order to check the movement of scraperpivoting about a horizontal pivot borne by the infusion chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the annexed drawings, provided as non-limiting examples of anembodiment of the aim of the invention:

FIGS. 1 through 3 represent, in a front view, the mechanical group atthree different stages of the functioning cycle, respectively, in thestand-by position, before the coffee powder has been poured, at the endof the compression period and after ejection of the infused powder bythe scraper.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the mechanical group, along arrow A of FIG. 1,with the removable pouring element in position,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are transverse sections of the mechanical group,respectively, along arrows B--B and C--C of FIGS. 2 and 3,

and FIG. 7 is a top, splintered view of the device assembly, showing themechanical group, the heater, the drive unit in a partial horizontalsection and the pouring element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The device, FIGS. 1 through 7, is constituted by a horizontal mechanicalgroup, removable without tools, by a heater 2 for the production of hotwater located immediately below mechanical group 1 and connected toinfusion chamber 5 by quick connectors 15 for the injection of water andremoval of the infused coffee, by a drive unit 3, motorized withautomatic reversal of motion, and finally, a removable pouring element20 mounted on the front of heater 2 and whose placement latchesmechanical group 1 on the latter.

Mechanical group 1 comprises a compression piston 7 that is displacedhorizontally in a cylindrical infusion chamber 5, having a mobile base11 in which the passage of hot water occurs via two peripheral meshestransversely with respect to the axis of the compression piston, theinfusion chamber being extended by a filling chamber 12, mobilehorizontally, in conjunction with mobile base 11, and provided with anupper opening 13 enabling the direct pouring of the coffee powder to bereceived, such powder being removed by a scraper 14 after percolation.

The passage of hot water can also be done by two series of peripheralperforations, each distributed at 360 degrees in infusion chamber 5 andoff-set axially so as to cause the water to move in parallel to the axisof the infusion chamber.

The assembly of the mobile members is activated by drive unit 3,motorized by virtue of a quick coupling causing the displacement of amain rack 8 and of a secondary rack 9 in opposite directions, the latteracting on filling chamber 12 and mobile base 11, so as to successivelyenable the filling of infusion chamber 5, the compression of the coffeepowder therein, and its removal after percolation.

Mechanical group 1 is obtained from functional sections respectivelyforming a fixed rail 4, the infusion chamber 5 as well as a mobileelement 6 sliding along the fixed rail in parallel to the axis ofinfusion chamber 5. This mobile element bears compression piston 7, mainrack 8 and a journaled hook 21 latching onto a snug 23 of a mobileabutment 22 that slides along fixed rail 4, behind the infusion chamber,and on which are mounted the axis of mobile base 11 as well as a rod 17affixed to filling chamber 12, and whose position and section aredetermined so as to check the movement of scraper 14, the latterpivoting in a perpendicular plane with respect to the axis of infusionchamber 5 about a horizontal pivot 18 borne by such chamber. Main rack8, by means of a pinion 10 rotating about an axis affixed to fixed rail4, activates the secondary rack 9, the latter acting on mobile abutment22 to bring filling chamber 12 in contact with infusion chamber 5 and tomake mobile base 11 enter therein.

The drive unit 3 is constituted of a motor 24 driving, by means of aregulator 25, a screw 26 bearing a threaded catch 27 that engages in ahousing 28 provided to this end in the mobile element 6 of mechanicalgroup 1. Screw 26 can be displaced axially in both directions and isnormally maintained in the intermediate position by two springs 29pressing against a bearing mounted in a block 30 affixed to the frame ofthe drive unit and located at one end of the screw. Such screw bears atits other end the mobile element of a proximity sensor 31. When catch 27comes to the end of its path, it causes an axial displacement of screw26 that is detected by the proximity sensor, which engenders anelectrical safety information used to command the reversal of motion orstoppage of the motor in case of an anomaly.

The motion control of motor 24, as well as the other functions of theapparatus, heater, pump, coffee grinder, etc., are ensured by anelectro-mechanical or electronic programmer associated to a sensormeasuring the torque of the motor.

At the start of the cycle (FIG. 1), mobile element 6 of the mechanicalgroup is positioned at the end of fixed rail 4, on the side of fillingchamber 12 and the mobile abutment 22 at the other end, the fillingchamber is pressed against infusion chamber 5, mobile base 11 is locatedbehind such infusion chamber and scraper 14 is raised. When thefunctioning command is given, first the coffee powder is poured into thefilling chamber via opening 13, then catch 27 drives the mobile elementtowards the other end of the fixed rail. Compression piston 7 pushes thecoffee powder towards the infusion chamber and finally compresses it inthe latter (FIG. 2). The resistance encountered by the compressionpiston thus drives the axial displacement of screw 26 of the drive unit,which causes the stoppage, infusion then reversal of the movement.

At the moment when mobile element 6 starts in the reverse direction,journaled hook 21 has overtaken snug 23 of mobile abutment 22, whichmeans that it will drive the latter and cause the displacement of mobileelement 11 towards the front of infusion chamber 5, the distancing offilling chamber 12 and the displacement of rod 17. Such rod bears acontraction 32 that will enable scraper 14 to get lowered under theaction of a spring (not represented) at the moment at which the mobilebase reaches the front of the infusion chamber (FIG. 3). At this moment,journaled hook 21 is raised by virtue of a ramp 33 affixed to fixed rail4 and no longer drives the mobile abutment.

Meanwhile, by its displacement, the latter has lowered a cam 34 mountedon heater 2 and activated a valve 35 to expose the hot water supplycircuit to open air, in order to avoid moistening the infused coffeepowder, and thus to facilitate its removal.

By continuing its movement, mobile element 6 brings secondary rack 9into contact with mobile abutment 22 which will be pushed back towardsits initial position at the same time as filling chamber 12, mobile base11 and the repositioning of scraper 14. The cycle then ends, and a newcycle can start.

According to an embodiment variation, heater 2 is placed behindmechanical group 1 and is connected to infusion chamber 5 by a quickconnector 15 for the injection of water, the removal of the infusedcoffee being done directly via a conduit directed towards the front.

Open air exposure will then be done by a longitudinal channel obtainedin the driving rod of mobile base 11, extended so as to be able topenetrate into an adequate housing of a fixed abutment (not represented)affixed to fixed rail 4 and located beyond mobile abutment 22. Whenmobile base 11 is located behind infusion chamber 5, during percolation,the end of the rod is engaged in the fixed abutment and arranged so asto seal it. Conversely, when the mobile base is displaced to cause theexpulsion of the infused powder, the end of the rod gets disengaged,enabling the passage of air.

According to a second embodiment variation, drive unit 3 is constitutedby a double action jack activated by means of pressurized water thatcomes from the pump that also provides the water intended to infuse thecoffee. In this case, the control of the jack position, as well as ofthe quantity of water to be infused, can advantageously be done byvirtue of a single flow meter associated to a programmable systemactivating the solenoid valves.

It can also be envisioned that other elements are obtained such asfilling chamber 12 or mobile abutment 22 by using the functionalsections. On the other hand, if mobile element 6 is manufactured byextrusion, it would be interesting to obtain it from two functionalsections assembled after cutting, with a view to reducing materialscraps, one of such sections constituting the sliding portion and theother the support of compression piston 7.

The functional sections can be extruded from a light alloy or areinforced synthetic material, or can be molded if they are to bemanufactured in large quantities.

The elements sliding along fixed rail 4, for example filling chamber 12and mobile element 22 will be advantageously obtained from a materialhaving a low friction coefficient, such as polyamide, especially whensaid rail is metallic. If the rail and mobile element 6 are both made ofa light alloy, slides 36 made of polyamide or similar, will beinterposed between them.

The design of the system described hereinabove enables the manufactureof a machine that is very compact and capable of being obtained in largequantities, at reasonable prices, which means that both domestic andprofessional use can be envisaged for it.

The positioning of the various component elements provide the object ofthe invention with a maximum of useful effects that had not been, upuntil now, obtained by similar devices.

I claim:
 1. Device for instant, automatic, pressurized percolation offood liquids including hot beverages, comprising:a mechanical groupformed from functional sections, said mechanical group being removablewithout tools, and comprising:an infusion chamber comprising an upperopening enabling receipt of a food powder and a longitudinal axis; acompression piston horizontally displaceable in said infusion chamber,said piston including a mobile base; a filling chamber extending saidinfusion chamber, said filling chamber being horizontally movable withsaid mobile base; a horizontal pivot borne by said infusion chamber; ascraper for removing food powder, said scraper being pivotal in avertical plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said infusionchamber around said horizontal pivot; a main rack, a secondary rack anda pinion gear; a mobile element bearing said compression piston anddriving said main rack which is affixed to said mobile element; at leastone fixed rail, said infusion chamber, said mobile element, said fillingchamber and said mobile base being slidable along said at least onefixed rail, and said pinion being affixed to said at least one fixedrail so that said main rack activates said secondary rack in an oppositedirection to movement of said main rack through said pinion; a rodaffixing said filling chamber and said mobile base, said rod beingconstructed and arranged so as to check movement of said scraper; aheater for production of hot water capable of being attached to saidmechanical group through said infusion chamber by quick connectors; anda drive unit for activating movable elements and through reversal ofmotion causing displacement of said main rack and said secondary rack inopposite directions.
 2. The device according to claim 1, furthercomprising a mobile abutment including a snug positioned behind saidinfusion chamber and a journaled hook borne on said mobile element, saidmobile base includes a driving rod, and said driving rod and said rodare affixed to said mobile abutment, said mobile abutment being slidablealong said fixed rail via action of said secondary rack and saidjournaled hook latching onto said snug.
 3. The device according to claim1, wherein said mechanical group is composed of extruded light alloy orreinforced synthetic material.
 4. The device according to claim 1,wherein said mechanical group is composed of molded light alloy orreinforced synthetic material.
 5. The device according to claim 1,wherein said heater is positioned immediately below said mechanicalgroup and is connected to said infusion chamber by a quick connector forinjection of water and removal of infused hot beverage; and a removablepouring element is mounted at a front portion of said heater and isconstructed and arranged to latch said mechanical group thereto.
 6. Thedevice according to claim 2, wherein said heater is positionedimmediately below said mechanical group and is connected to saidinfusion chamber by a quick connector for injection of water and removalof infused hot beverage; and a removable pouring element is mounted at afront portion of said heater and is constructed and arranged to latchsaid mechanical group thereto.
 7. The device according to claim 1,wherein said heater is positioned behind said mechanical group and isconnected to said infusion chamber by a quick connector for injection ofwater and removal of infused hot beverage directly via a conduitdirected towards a front portion of said mechanical group.
 8. The deviceaccording to claim 7, comprising a driving rod for said mobile base,said driving rod including a longitudinal channel providing open airexposure and an end; a second abutment affixed to said fixed rail, saidsecond abutment comprising a recess; said driving rod extending so as tobe capable of penetrating into said recess of said fixed abutment andarranged so that said end of said driving rod is adapted to be sealed byengaging said recess during percolation, and adapted to be disengagedwhile allowing air to pass when said mobile base is displaced in orderto cause expulsion of infused powder.
 9. The device according to claim2, wherein said heater is positioned behind said mechanical group and isconnected to said infusion chamber by a quick connector for injection ofwater and removal of infused hot beverage directly via a conduitdirected towards a front portion of said mechanical group.
 10. Thedevice according to claim 9, wherein said driving rod includes alongitudinal channel providing open air exposure and an end; a secondabutment is affixed to said fixed rail, said second abutment comprisinga recess; and said driving rod extends so as to be capable ofpenetrating into said recess of said fixed abutment and arranged so thatsaid end of said driving rod is adapted to be sealed by engaging saidrecess during percolation, and adapted to be disengaged while allowingair to pass when said mobile base is displaced in order to causeexpulsion of infused powder.
 11. The device according to claim 1,wherein said drive unit comprises:a frame; a threaded catch; a screwbearing said catch, said screw capable of being axially displaced inopposite directions to drive said catch along a path, said screwincluding a first end and a second end; a regulator; a motor for drivingsaid screw through said regulator; said mobile element including ahousing and said threaded catch being engaged in said housing; a bearingmounted on a block affixed to said frame of said drive unit andpositioned at said first end of said screw; two springs pressing againstsaid bearing for maintaining said screw in a normal intermediateposition; and a proximity sensor mounted on said second end of saidscrew to control reversal of motion or stoppage of said drive motor incase of an anomaly, when said threaded catch, at an end of the path,causes axial displacement of said screw.
 12. The device according toclaim 2, wherein said drive unit comprises:a frame; a threaded catch; ascrew bearing said catch, said screw capable of being axially displacedin opposite directions to drive said catch along a path, said screwincluding a first end and a second end; a regulator; a motor for drivingsaid screw through said regulator; said mobile element including ahousing and said threaded catch being engaged in said housing; a bearingmounted on a block affixed to said frame of said drive unit andpositioned at said first end of said screw; two springs pressing againstsaid bearing for maintaining said screw in a normal intermediateposition; and a proximity sensor mounted on said second end of saidscrew to control reversal of motion or stoppage of said drive motor incase of an anomaly, when said threaded catch, at an end of the path,causes axial displacement of said screw.
 13. The device according toclaim 12, including a contraction in said driving rod capable ofinteracting with said scraper to lower said scraper under action of aspring; and a ramp on said fixed rail for raising said journaled hook;andsaid mechanical group is constructed and arranged to comprise asequence of operation including displacement of said threaded catchdriving said mobile element so that said compression piston pushes thefood powder, previously poured into said filling chamber, into saidinfusion chamber and compresses the food powder in said infusionchamber, with resistance encountered by said compression piston thencausing stoppage of said drive motor; infusion of the food powder;reversal of motion and displacement by virtue of said journaled hook,said mobile abutment, said driving rod and said mobile base towards afront portion of said infusion chamber, and distancing of said fillingchamber; lowering of said scraper with said contraction when said mobilebase reaches the front portion of said infusion chamber; raising of saidjournaled hook by said ramp so as to no longer drive said mobileabutment; and pushing of said mobile abutment back towards an initialposition simultaneously with said filling chamber, said mobile base andsaid scraper with said mobile element by bringing said secondary rack incontact with said mobile abutment.
 14. The device according to claim 13,including a hot liquid supply circuit; a valve capable of exposing saidhot liquid supply circuit to open air to avoid moistening of the foodpowder to facilitate removal of the food powder; and a cam positioned onsaid heater and capable of being lowered by said mobile abutment at aninitial point of displacement.
 15. The device according to claim 1,wherein said drive unit comprises a double action jack; and furthercomprising a pump including solenoid valves for providing liquid forinfusing said food powder and for activating said double action jack,and a single flow meter associated with a programmable system foractivating said solenoid valves.
 16. The device according to claim 2,wherein said drive unit comprises a double action jack; and furthercomprising a pump including solenoid valves for providing liquid forinfusing said food powder and for activating said double action jack,and a single flow meter associated with a programmable system foractivating said solenoid valves.
 17. The device according to claim 1,including two series of peripheral perforations, each of said two seriesbeing distributed along 360 degrees in said infusion chamber, andaxially off-set so as to cause liquid to progress in parallel to saidlongitudinal axis of said infusion chamber.
 18. The device according toclaim 2, including two series of peripheral perforations, each of saidtwo series being distributed along 360 degrees in said infusion chamber,and axially off-set so as to cause liquid to progress in parallel tosaid longitudinal axis of said infusion chamber.
 19. Device for instant,automatic, pressurized percolation of hot coffee, comprising:amechanical group formed from functional sections, said mechanical groupbeing removable without tools, and comprising:an infusion chambercomprising an upper opening enabling receipt of ground coffee and alongitudinal axis; a compression piston horizontally displaceable insaid infusion chamber, said piston including a mobile base; a fillingchamber extending said infusion chamber, said filling chamber beinghorizontally movable with said mobile base; a horizontal pivot borne bysaid infusion chamber; a scraper for removing ground coffee, saidscraper being pivotal in a vertical plane perpendicular to saidlongitudinal axis of said infusion chamber around said horizontal pivot;a main rack, a secondary rack and a pinion gear; a mobile elementbearing said compression piston and driving said main rack which isaffixed to said mobile element; at least one fixed rail, said infusionchamber, said mobile element, said filling chamber and said mobile basebeing slidable along said at least one fixed rail, and said pinion beingaffixed to said at least one fixed rail so that said main rack activatessaid secondary rack in an opposite direction to movement of said mainrack through said pinion; a mobile abutment including a snug positionedbehind said infusion chamber and a journaled hook borne on said mobileelement; said mobile base including a driving rod, and said driving rodand said rod are affixed to said mobile abutment, said mobile abutmentbeing slidable along said fixed rail via action of said secondary rackand said journaled hook latching onto said snug; and a rod affixing saidfilling chamber and said mobile base, said rod being constructed andarranged so as to check movement of said scraper; a heater forproduction of hot water capable of being attached to said mechanicalgroup; and a drive unit for activating movable elements and throughreversal of motion causing displacement of said main rack and saidsecondary rack in opposite directions.
 20. The device according to claim19, wherein said drive unit comprises:a frame; a threaded catch; a screwbearing said catch, said screw capable of being axially displaced inopposite directions to drive said catch along a path, said screwincluding a first end and a second end; a regulator; a motor for drivingsaid screw through said regulator; said mobile element including ahousing and said threaded catch being engaged in said housing; a bearingmounted on a block affixed to said frame of said drive unit andpositioned at said first end of said screw; two springs pressing againstsaid bearing for maintaining said screw in a normal intermediateposition; and a proximity sensor mounted on said second end of saidscrew to control reversal of motion or stoppage of said drive motor incase of an anomaly, when said threaded catch, at an end of the path,causes axial displacement of said screw.